Reclosable condom having sealed chamber with a rheopexic material within

ABSTRACT

A condom comprises an elongated generally tubular member of thin, flexible material and having an elongated opening provided along at least a substantial portion of the length of the elongated tubular member so as to facilitate placing the elongated tubular member over a flaccid penis. The elongated tubular member may contain a plurality of compartments, each of which contains rheopexic material so that the condom stiffens in use. A slide fastener closure device is provided for closing the elongated opening after placing the condom on a flaccid penis. Further disclosed is an elongated generally tubular member containing rheopexic material for use as an implanted penile prosthesis which stiffens upon agitation.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation-in-part of my earlier copending U.S.application Ser. No. 388,107, filed June 15, 1982, (now U.S. Pat. No.4,432,357, issued Feb. 21, 1984) the entire contents of which areincorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a condom, and more particularly to a condomwhich may be easily affixed even to a flaccid penis, and also toimplant-type stiffening devices.

At present, two types of condoms are known: the roll on type which rollsover the penis; and the pull over type which is pulled over the penis.Both of these known condoms are suitable for use only when the penis iserect. If the penis is flaccid, for example as would be the case with animpotent male, it is extremely difficult, if not impossible to place thecondom on the penis.

More particularly, when using condoms using rheopexic fluid as astiffening agent, as disclosed and claimed in my copending U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 388,107, which condoms are particularly suitablefor use with impotent males, it is difficult to place the condom overthe flaccid penis.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a condomwhich may be easily placed over the penis of the user, even a flaccidpenis of an impotent male.

Penile implants are presently well known. Typical penile implants arediscussed in an article entitled, "Complications of Penile ProsthesisSurgery for Impotence" by Joseph J. Kaufman, Arie Lindner and ShlomoRaz, The Journal of Urology, Volume 128, December, 1982, pages 1192 and1193, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.Penile prosthetic devices are also discussed in the article entitled,"Penile Prosthetic Surgery Under Local Anesthesia" by Joseph J. Kaufman,The Journal of Urology, Volume 128, December, 1982, pages 1190 and 1191,the entire contents of which are also incorporated herein by reference.The known penile prosthesis is generally a semi-rigid rod or aninflatable device. The semi-rigid rod has the disadvantage of alwaysbeing semi-rigid. The inflatable device has the disadvantage ofrequiring additional structures to inflate and deflate the prosthesis.These prior art devices are thus unsatisfactory.

Therefore, a further object of the present invention is to provide apenile prosthesis which may be easily implanted in the penis and whichis simpler in design and operation than the prior art devices.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a condom which may beeasily placed over the penis of the user, even a flaccid penis of animpotent male, which condom need not include the stiffening rheopexicmaterial disclosed herein and disclosed in my copending application Ser.No. 388,107. Such a condom is particularly useful with impotent malesusing other penis stiffening means, and who require the use of a condomfor birth and/or disease control.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, a condom comprises an elongatedgenerally tubular member of thin, flexible material; an elongatedopening provided along at least a substantial portion of the length ofthe elongated tubular member so as to facilitate placing the elongatedtubular member over a flaccid penis; and means for closing the elongatedopening after placing of the condom on a flaccid penis. Preferably, thetubular member has chambers thereon for receiving rheopexic material toserve as a stiffening agent.

A penile prosthesis according to the present invention comprises anelongated generally tubular member having closed ends and defining atleast one chamber therein; and a rheopexic material in the at least onechamber and retained sealingly within the at least one chamber; theelongated tubular member being adapted to be implanted in a penis.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a condom, in its erected state,according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the condom of FIG. 1, drawn to anenlarged scale;

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective, partial cross-sectional view of amodified condom of FIG. 1, but provided with a protective flap, drawn toan enlarged scale;

FIG. 4 is a further example of the invention wherein the protective flapof FIG. 3 is replaced with a protective sleeve;

FIG. 5 illustrates a modification of the embodiment of FIG. 4 whereinthe sleeve comprises a roll-down sleeve intregrally formed with thefront portion of the condom;

FIG. 6 illustrates the embodiment of FIG. 5 with the roll-down sleevepartially rolled down;

FIG. 7 illustrates a condom with a zip-type closure having a slidefastener device thereon;

FIG. 8 is a detail perspective cross-section of one type of conventionalslide fastener device as used in FIGS. 7, 9 and 10;

FIG. 9 illustrates a modified embodiment of FIG. 1 wherein the slidefastener device extends at a right angle to the longitudinal directionof the condom at the base or bottom portion thereof;

FIG. 10 illustrates a modification of the embodiment of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 illustrates the invention as applied to a penile prosthesis;

FIG. 12 illustrates a penile prosthesis of FIG. 11 in greater detail;and

FIG. 13 illustrates a modified embodiment of the prosthesis of FIGS. 11and 12.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The condoms of the present invention preferably are generally of thetype illustrated in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 388,107. The condomis provided with a plurality of chambers or compartments 10 illustratedin FIG. 2, which compartments are filled with rheopexic fluid of thetype disclosed in Ser. No. 388,107, the rheopexic fluid not beingdiscussed in detail herein. Also, the various compartments containingthe rheopexic fluids may be of the type shown in Ser. No. 388,107, adetailed description not being given herein since the entire contents ofSer. No. 388,107 is incorporated herein by reference. The compartmentsare shown schematically in FIGS. 2 and 3, but are not shown in the otherdrawings of the present application.

While the present invention is particularly useful with condoms usingrheopexic fluid therein as a stiffening agent, the concepts of thepresent invention can be used with other types of condoms having otherstiffening devices and wherein the penis may be provided with aninternal implant-type stiffening device. The concepts of the presentinvention are also applicable to condoms having no stiffening means perse or to condoms having stiffening means other than those specificallydisclosed herein. The main object of the present invention is to providea condom which can be placed on a flaccid penis, for example by impotentmales.

Referring to FIG. 1, the condom 20 comprises, for example, a condom asshown in Ser. No. 388,107 with inner and outer layers, having rheopexicfluid therein. The condom is further provided with an elongated openingmember 21 which may be generally of the type designated as a "zip-lock"closure. The closure is shown in more detail in FIG. 2. The closure 21comprises interengaging members 22, 23, the member 23 having aprojection 24 thereon which engages in a recess 25 of member 22.Preferably, the projection 24 has a protrusion 25 which engages in aconcave portion 27 of the recess 25 to provide a firm interlockingengagement of the projection 24 in the recess 25. The closure in FIGS. 1and 2 is closed by pressing the members 22, 23 together along thedirection of the arrows A shown in FIG. 2. This will provide a firm,liquid-tight seal along the length of the condom, and since the condomis supplied with the locking members 22, 23 opened, the condom may beeasily placed over the penis, the closure members 22, 23 then beingpressed together in the direction of the arrows A in FIG. 2, to firmlyclose the condom over the penis, ready for use. Preferably, the lockingmembers 22, 23 are fabricated of a material which is firmer than that ofthe material forming the circular part of the condom. Also, the condompreferably has about one inch at the top thereof which is solid orclosed (not provided with the zip-type opening) for accumulation ofejaculated spermatozoa. By providing the solid or closed upper or headportion of the condom, the safety aspect of preventing possible leakageof spermatozoa after ejaculation is improved.

As shown in FIG. 3, a flap, of latex or having compartments containingrheopexic fluid, can be provided to go over the zip-type closure ofFIGS. 1 and 2 to prevent irritation from occurring to the sex partner.Preferably, the flap 30 illustrated in FIG. 3 extends upwardly above theupper portion of closure members 22, 23 and is adhered or sealed to thecondom at 31. This insures that the flap will remain covering theclosure members 22, 23 during use, and provides a smoother outer surfaceof the condom to further prevent irritation from occurring to the sexpartner.

As shown in FIG. 3 an inner flap 35 may be provided to protect the maleorgan from irritation due to the closure 22, 23. The inner flap 35 ispreferably generally coextensive with outer flap 30.

FIG. 4 illustrates a modified protective arrangement wherein a sleeve 40is slid over the condom after the condom is placed over the penis. Forexample, after the condom is placed over the penis and the zip-closuremembers 22, 23 are pressed together to close same, the sleeve 40 is thenslipped over the closed condom to serve as a protective layer to preventirritation to the sex partner.

FIG. 5 illustrates an improved arrangement of providing a circularsleeve over the condom for protective purposes. In FIG. 5, the sleeve 50is integrally formed at the upper portion 51 of the condom with theouter surface of the condom so as to provide a smooth junction whichwill not irritate the sex partner. The sleeve 50 is rolled up, as shownin FIG. 5. After closure of the zip closure members 22, 23, the sleeve50 is then rolled downwardly to completely cover the zip closure memberin a secure and positive fashion. FIG. 6 illustrates the roll-downsleeve 50 at an intermediate position, it being clear that sufficientmaterial is provided in the roll-down sleeve 50 to permit it to berolled all the way down to the base of the condom.

In the above embodiments, it should be clear that the zip-closuremembers 22, 23 are tapered at the upper ends or at the head portion ofthe condom, as shown in FIG. 1, to further prevent irritation to the sexpartner. This is shown by means of inclined surfaces 28 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 illustrates a modified embodiment wherein the closure comprises aplastic slide fastener 60 utilizing a conventional slide 61 for closingthe plastic slide fastener. The plastic slide fastener members 62, 63are integrally formed with edges 64, 65 of the condom, as are theclosure members 22, 23 with the edges of the condom 20 shown in FIG. 1.The slide fastener 60 is of conventional construction and is shown indetail in FIG. 8. To use the condom of FIG. 7, the condom, in its openstate, is placed over the flaccid penis, and the slide 61 is pulleddownwardly toward the base of the penis to firmly close the plasticslide fastener 60. The slide 61 can be removed completely from thecondom at the base portion of the condom, or a stop member 66 can beformed at the bottom of the condom to prevent the slide 61 from comingoff the base of the condom. This arrangement will permit the slidefastener 60 to be re-used, thereby permitting the condom to be re-used,as desired. If the stop members 66 are provided to prevent the slide 61from coming off the end of the zipper, it is desirable that some type ofprotective device be provided at the base of the condom to prevent theretained slide 61 from irritating the sex partner. A suitable device isa sleeve such as shown in FIG. 4, but the sleeve not being as long asthe sleeve of FIG. 4 since it is only necessary to cover the lower endportion of the slide fastener 60. Also, in this embodiment, it ispreferable to use a flap such as flap 30 to protect the sex partner fromirritation by the slide fastener 60. Sleeve 40 of FIG. 4 could also beused for protective purposes. The roll-down sleeve 50 of FIGS. 5 and 6could also be used, this arrangement being very advantageous since itwill also "roll" relatively easily over the slide 61 at the base portionof the condom to serve as a protector shield therefor.

As seen in FIG. 7, a flap 80 can be integrally formed with the lowerportion of the condom 67, the flap 80 having an adhesive portion 81covered by a release material (such as a release paper) 82. In use, whenthe slide 61 is zipped down to the bottom of the condom, the releasepaper 82 is removed and the flap 80 is placed across the bottom portionof the condom, over the slide 61, and adhered to the opposite side ofthe condom, thereby covering the slide 61 and also securely locking thecondom in its closed position to prevent inadvertent opening thereof.Such a flap 80 can also be provided in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 6to insure that the bottom portion of the condom will remain closed. Theflap 80 in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 6 is not illustrated in thedrawings, but it can be implemented in substantially the same way asshown in FIG. 7. The inner and outer flaps 35, 30, respectively, shownin FIG. 3 may have adhesive portions along their longitudinal verticallyextending free edges, the adhesive material being covered by a releasepaper or the like. During use, the free ends of the flaps 30 and/or 35can be adhered to the remaining portion of the condom, if desired. It isgenerally not necessary to provide an adhesive for the inner flap 35since it will be retained in place by the pressure of the condom on thepenis. If adhesive securing of the free edge of a flap is desired, it isgenerally preferable to use it in connection with outer flap 30.

FIG. 9 illustrates a further modified embodiment wherein the slidefastener 60 is turned at right angles at the base portion of the condomso that after the slide 61 is pulled down, the slide is retained in ahorizontal, rather than vertical position relative to the penis. Aprotective sleeve 70 is provided at the base portion of the condom toserve as protection from irritation of the partner by the slide 61. Thesleeve 70 is shown outwardly spaced from condom 68 in FIG. 9 for ease ofillustration, but preferably it is of elastic material and is tightlyformed against the main body of the condom 68. In the embodiment of FIG.9, the roll-down sleeve 50 of FIGS. 5 and 6, is used. Alternatively, theslip-on sleeve 40 of FIG. 4 or the flap 30 of FIG. 3 can be providedeither with or without the upwardly directed lower sleeve 70, forprotective purposes. Still further, as seen in FIG. 10, the sleeve 70can be provided in a roll-up manner, such as the roll-down sleeve 50 ofFIGS. 5 and 6. In FIG. 9, after the slide 61 is zipped down to the baseof the condom 68, the roll-up sleeve 71 is rolled upwardly, as shown inchain lines, to cover the slide 61. The sleeve 71 is of elastic materialand preferably tightly encircles the base of the condom so as tosecurely cover the slide 61.

In the embodiments of FIGS. 9 and 10, since a fixed member is located atthe base of the condom, it is more difficult to insert the condom onto aflaccid penis than the embodiments discussed previously. However, if theslide fastener device for the elongated opening of the condom is in theopen state during insertion of the penis, it is still possible torelatively easily insert the condom over the penis since the user canextend his fingers through the elongated open closure and pull theflaccid penis through the lower members 70 or 71 (FIGS. 9 and 10,respectively). After the penis is pulled through the lower portion 70,71, then the condom can be closed in the longitudinal direction, asdiscussed hereinabove.

Once the condom of the present invention is placed on the penis, a"pseudo erection" can take place by means of the rheopexic material suchas disclosed in Ser. No. 388,107, or by other means which may beprovided either within the condom or within the penis of the user.

Any of the condoms of FIGS. 1-10 may be rheopexic fluid receivingchambers (as seen in FIG. 2) or such chambers may be eliminated. Whenthe chambers are eliminated, the condom may be a single layer condomhaving the same opening and closing constructions as shown in FIGS. 1and 3-10 to aid in placing the condom over a flaccid or semi-flaccidpenis. Such a condom may have stiffening means other than rheopexicfluid or may have no stiffening means at all. Penile implants, such asthose already known or those shown in FIGS. 11-13 may be used with suchcondoms which have rheopexic fluid receiving chambers as shown in FIG.2.

FIG. 11 shows a penile prosthesis which is implanted in a penis. FIG. 11shows two penile prostheses 100, 101, which prostheses are generallyelongated tubular members having rheopexic material therein. FIG. 12shows a broken view of a typical prosthesis 100 with rheopexic fluid 102therein. The advantage of the penile prosthesis of FIGS. 11 and 12 isthat in the normal state, the tubular prosthesis 100 is generallyflaccid. In an agitated state, the rheopexic material within theprosthesis 100, 101 will stiffen the prothesis 100, 101 due to thecharacteristics of rheopexic materials, thereby providing a "psuedoerection". Upon cessation of stimulation, the rheopexic material willrevert back to its normal, non-agitated state and the penis will thenagain become flaccid. These are precisely the characteristics requiredof a penile prosthesis.

The details of implanting a penile prosthesis of the present inventioninto a penis is not given herein since such details are known, as isevident from the two articles entitled, "Complications of PenileProsthesis Surgery for Impotence" and "Penile Prosthetic Surgery UnderLocal Anesthesia", which were mentioned hereinabove. The tubular members100, 101 can be made of inert, flexible biologically safe materials,such as polypropylene or similar materials so as to contain therheopexic material in a leak-proof or liquid-tight state. Similarmaterials as are used for inflatable penile prostheses can be used forthe elongated tubular members 100, 101 of the present invention.

The elongated prothesis shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 can be provided withcompartments or chambers therein, such as shown in FIG. 13. For example,a longitudinally extending divider 103 can be provided internally of theprosthesis 100 to divide same into upper and lower compartments 104,105, each of which is sealed off from each other and each of which isfilled with rheopexic material 102. The prosthesis of FIG. 13 can alsobe divided into adjacent longitudinally extending compartments byproviding internal dividers 106 which extend vertically in FIG. 13. Thelongitudinal divider 103 and/or the vertically extending dividers 106can be provided, as desired, depending upon the characteristics requiredand the type of rheopexic material used.

I claim:
 1. A condom comprising:an elongated generally tubular member ofthin, flexible material; an elongated opening provided along at least asubstantial portion of the length of said elongated tubular member so asto facilitate placing said elongated tubular member over a flaccidpenis; said elongated tubular member having an open base end and aclosed, continuous, substantially smooth head end portion at the endthereof opposite said open end, said closed head end portion beingadapted to cover a head portion of a penis and to contain ejaculatedspermatozoa; and means for closing said elongated opening after placingof said condom on a flaccid penis.
 2. The condom of claim 1, whereinsaid elongated opening extends along substantially the complete lengthof said elongated tubular member, except for said closed head endportion of said elongated tubular member.
 3. The condom of claim 1,wherein said closing means comprises slide fastener means.
 4. The condomof claim 1, wherein said closing means comprises a first member securedto one edge of said elongated opening and having an elongatedgroove-like receptacle therein, and an elongated member extending alongthe other edge of said elongated opening and having a projection thereonwhich is engageable in said groove.
 5. The condom of claim 4, whereinsaid elongated tubular member includes protective means extending oversaid closing means.
 6. The condom of claim 5, wherein said protectivemeans comprises a flap member extending from one end of said elongatedopening, over said closing means, to the other end of said elongatedopening.
 7. The condom of claim 6, wherein said flap integrally extendsfrom said closed head end of said elongated tubular member.
 8. Thecondom of claim 6, wherein said flap member extends externally of saidelongated tubular member.
 9. The condom of claim 5, wherein saidprotective means comprises an elongated sleeve arranged over saidelongated tubular member at least over the length of said condom alongwhich said closing means extends.
 10. The condom of claim 5, whereinsaid protective means comprises a roll-down sleeve which extends aroundthe complete periphery of said elongated tubular member and which isinitially rolled up so as to be rollable down along the length of saidcondom to extend the sleeve over the length of said closing means. 11.The condom of claim 6, wherein said flap member extends interior of saidelongated tubular member.
 12. The condom of claim 11, wherein saidprotective means further comprises a flap member extending externally ofsaid elongated tubular member from one end of said elongated opening,over said closing means, to the other end of said elongated opening. 13.The condom of claim 1, wherein said closing means comprises a slidewhich is slideable therealong to close said closing means.
 14. Thecondom of claim 13, wherein said slide is removeable from the ends ofsaid closing means after said slide is slid along said closing means toclose said closing means.
 15. The condom of claim 13, wherein saidcondom comprises stop means to prevent said slide from sliding off saidclosing means after closure of same, and wherein said elongated tubularmember comprises protective means at the base end of said condom forcovering said slide after said slide is slid along the length of saidcondom to close said closing means.
 16. The condom of claim 15, whereinsaid protective means at said base end of said condom comprises sleevemeans encircling the base end of said condom.
 17. The condom of claim16, wherein said sleeve means comprises roll-up sleeve means which isunrolled to form a sleeve.
 18. A condom comprising:an elongatedgenerally tubular member of thin, flexible material; an elongatedopening provided along at least a substantial portion of the length ofsaid elongated tubular member so as to facilitate placing said elongatedtubular member over a flaccid penis; and means for closing saidelongated opening after placing of said condom on a flaccid penis; saidelongated generally tubular member including a plurality of separatedchambers distributed around at least one of the periphery and lengththereof, and rheopexic material sealed within said plurality ofchambers.
 19. The condom of claim 18, wherein said elongated openingextends along substantially the complete length of said elongatedtubular member, except for a closed head end portion of said elongatedtubular member.
 20. The condom of claim 18, wherein said elongatedtubular member includes protective means extending over said closingmeans.
 21. The condom of claim 20, wherein said protective meanscomprises a substantially smooth sheet-like member extending over saidclosing means.